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 Striking Gold through Geotourism: developments in the Ku-ring-gai GeoRegion, a pilot project of the National Geotourism StrategyPresented byAngus M Robinson, FAusIMM (CP), the Coordinator of the National Geotourism Strategy of the Australian Geoscience Council. Biography and Synopsis Commencing his career as a mineral exploration geologist in the late 1960s, Angus M Robinson, now coordinator of the National Geotourism Strategy (NGS) for the Australian Geoscience Council (AGC), has been pursuing his career over the past decade exploring the ‘opportunity for discovery’ with a love of landscapes, with satisfying project work involving challenges, learning new skills and knowledge, and educating/enthusing others in the geotourism experience. Having conferred with a range of specialists on the geology, geomorphology, and related natural and cultural heritage values of Ku-ring-Gai Chase National Park, the AGC is supporting a community group, the Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment, to develop a pilot project of the NGS to further the special geoheritage that has been identified in the proximity to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park area, extending to include the Northern Beaches. These geoheritage values (both geomorphological and geological) form the platform for the development of the other natural heritage attributes, as well as demonstrating the close relationship between landscape and human activity (cultural heritage) over many thousands of years. The Geological Survey of New South Wales has advised that, while concerned that appropriate steps will need to be taken by three Councils and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure that visitor impacts are responsibly managed, the Survey has no objection to any proposal to develop what is now designated as the Ku-ring-gai GeoRegion (a concept akin to an exploration licence) embracing some 440 sq kms in area as a potential Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark. The photo is Angus on site at Tallaroo Hot Springs near Mt Surprise in the ‘Etheridge Scenic Area’ Far NQ, an area which would be familiar to a good number of our exploration colleagues. For those interested, this link leads to a discussion paper on the geotourism potential of the Etheridge region, a lovely part of the world. |
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